Aitor Karanka has an intriguing selection dilemma to ponder ahead of Middlesbrough FC’s Premier League fixture at in-form Everton .

With Adam Clayton, Marten de Roon and Adam Forshaw all pushing for two defensive midfield positions, one of that trio is going to be disappointed. But who should the unlucky player be?

Read on as our Gazette Boro writers pick their pairings and explain why. Have your say in the comments section below.

Philip Tallentire - Clayton and Forshaw

Aitor Karanka primarily picks players based on current form and how they’ve performed on the training ground.

And on that basis, any candidates for the first team are only as good as their last game.

Taking that into account, he may well plump for Adam Forshaw and Marten de Roon , who played well in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

However, it would be a huge call to drop Adam Clayton after a rare off day. The former Leeds and Huddersfield midfielder has been the model of consistency since joining Boro two years ago and is surely allowed one bad day at the office?

Jonathan Benteke of Crystal Palace is put under pressure from Marten de Roon

Also we must factor in the knowledge that Marten de Roon, who admittedly put in an impressive cameo against Palace, has completed 90 minutes in a Middlesbrough shirt just once (the friendly against Real Sociedad last month) since joining the club from Atalanta.

So, I would go for Clayton and Forshaw, who have played well together most of the season so far.

Read More

Anthony Vickers - de Roon and Forshaw

It is time to unleash the ‘Bulldog of Bergamo’ to put the bite on Everton midfield linchpin Idrissa Gueye.

The Dutch anchorman has had barely an hour of competitive action for Boro after his £10.8m move from Atalanta but has shown in that time he has steel, spatial awareness and a slick range of passing.

He was the top tackler and second for interceptions in Serie A and will relish the challenge of getting a grip of the man making the Toffees tick.

Adam Forshaw, Adam Clayton and Marten de Roon

When he came on against Palace, de Roon slotted in neatly alongside Adam Forshaw. That helped underpin a midfield that had been run ragged for most of the game and pushed play 10 yards up the pitch to build a platform for a sustained late attack.

It was Boro’s most fluid and coherent spell of the match and it may be harsh on long time engine room fixture Adam Clayton but I’d start with the team that finished the game.

Jonathon Taylor - Clayton and Forshaw

I understand the clamour to get Marten de Roon back into the Boro side following his substitute display against Crystal Palace.

The £10.8m signing added some much-needed bite to the midfield on an afternoon when no Boro player really came to the fore.

But I’d stick with Adam Clayton and Adam Forshaw for Saturday’s trip to Everton.

Adam Forshaw

Starting with Forshaw, I think he’s arguably been Boro’s best performer of the campaign so far - and it’s a massive game for him personally.

An Everton lad, he came through the Goodison Park Academy and made his top-flight debut for the Toffees in 2010/11. He’ll have more than a point to prove against his former employers.

But sentiment aside, he’s the one midfielder at Boro who is forward-looking. He can turn defence into attack, and that technical nous will be needed in a match where Aitor Karanka’s side will be up against it.

As for Clayton, he’s been a mainstay in the Boro team under Karanka. Yes, he wasn’t at his best against Palace on Saturday - but who was?

He still does the ugly side of the game superbly, and has proven himself time and time again in this Boro system. I’d keep faith with him - one game doesn’t make you a bad player.

Andrew Glover - Forshaw and Clayton

Based on his price tag, Marten de Roon could expect to play at Goodison.

Based on his form this season, Adam Forshaw deserves to get the nod.

And based on his contribution during his Boro career to date, surely Adam Clayton has to start?

At this stage of the campaign, I would ignore the money paid for the Dutchman and pair Forshaw and Clayton again.

Forshaw has arguably been Boro’s most consistent player since replacing de Roon in the Stoke game.

Read More

Clayton struggled slightly against Palace, but has proved himself consistently in front of Boro’s back four. There’ll be plenty of sitting and guarding to be done on Saturday - a job that's made for him.

De Roon’s fee guarantees he won’t stay on the bench for long, but Clayton and Forshaw have earned their shirts for Everton.

Dominic Shaw - Clayton and Forshaw

Well the Forshaw selection speaks for itself.

Suddenly, the Scouse midfielder appears to be topping the pecking order when it comes to the midfield pairing.

That it's a game against his club, where it all started out, should serve to fuel the fire even more.

And in a game where the ball is likely to spend the majority of the time at the foot of a man in blue, when Boro are in possession they need to be neat, tidy and efficient.

Ronald Koeman

Forshaw offers that. Clayton didn't enjoy his finest afternoon against Palace but he wasn't the only one to suffer an off-colour outing.

De Roon's return will make Clayton well aware of the fact he needs to retain form but his force field has been crucial for the side in the past and will be again on Saturday.

Sunderland made it awfully easy for Everton's midfield runners to dictate the game in the second half on Monday.

Clayton's game is all about making sure the opposition don't run riot in the way Koeman's side did at the Stadium of Light.

De Roon has looked promising so far and, with the fee Boro paid for him, will no doubt go on to become a key figure.

His time will come, I'm sure. But I hope Clayton and Forshaw get the chance to put the Palace disappointment behind them on Saturday.